Frank J. Pelisek received a bachelor of science degree in economics in 1954 from the University of Wisconsin and an LL.B. in 1958 from the UW Law School. His academic honors included the Order of the Coif and Law Review. Mr. Pelisek served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956.

Mr. Pelisek practiced law with Michael Best & Friedrich LLP for 44 years, 37 years as partner. As an authority on mergers and acquisitions, he numbered among his clients the state's premier businesses and financial institutions.

Mr. Pelisek's talents were not limited to his law practice, as he was one of the major civic leaders of his generation. His public service began in 1969, when Governor Warren Knowles appointed him to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. As president of the Board during the 1970s, he oversaw the merger of the UW System. Never shying from a tough assignment, he relished the opportunity to use his skills and contacts to bring resolution to contentious issues. Mr. Pelisek was chairman of the Brewers Task Force, which led to the site selection for Miller Park, and chair of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Authority, leading the reorganization of the hospital to a state authority.

Mr. Pelisek had extensive involvement in governmental affairs, serving on 19 boards and committees for the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and the state of Wisconsin. He worked on political campaigns for Richard Nixon, Warren Knowles, and Tommy Thompson and served on committees and task forces under Governors Knowles, Dreyfus, and Thompson.

His proven effectiveness led to many invitations for civic and public service including the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Public Policy Forum. Perhaps his crowning accomplishment was serving as vice president and president of the Milwaukee Art Museum Board of Trustees during the planning, capital campaign, and building of the internationally acclaimed Calatrava addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Mr. Pelisek received numerous awards for his public service, including the UW Alumni Club of Milwaukee's Distinguished Service Award; the Todd Wehr Award for Fund Raising Activities from the National Society of Fund Raising Executives; an honorary doctor of commercial science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; the Benjamin Franklin Award from the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation; ARC Milwaukee's Challenger Award; the Warren P. Knowles Humanitarian Award from the Medical College of Wisconsin; the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Community and Justice; and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation William C. Frye Award, received with his wife, Jill.